Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 The Faith Once Delivered –  The Historical Record –  Some of The Arguments Used To Defend Instrumental Music - Don McClain 2 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Clement of Alexandria (150 AD) Justin Martyr (150 AD) Origen (200 AD) Methodius (250 AD) Eusebius (300 AD) Basil of Caesarea (330 AD) John Chrysostom (350 AD) Cyril of Jerusalem (350 AD) Athanasius (350 AD) Isadore of Pelusium (400 AD) Apostolic Constitutions (400 AD) Jerome (400 AD) Augustine (400 AD) Don McClain 3

W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9,  FACT: Rejected when first introduced by the large majority.  FACT: Was not widely used until 1200 A.D.  FACT: The prevalent view of the reformers was that I.M. is wrong.  If the NT church used I.M. with the approval of the apostles – history would tell a different story!!  Who authorized I.M. music?  We are not that ODD / We want to restore NT Christianity!

Don McClain 5 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 What about animal sacrifices, the burning of incense, and the Passover. (Amos 5:21-23; 6:5)  We are no longer under the Old Testament – we are under the New Testament. (Col. 2:14; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:9-10)  We must find authority for all that we do in the New Testament. Col. 3:17; 2 John 1:9 Don McClain 6 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Revelation 5:8 (NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Don McClain 7 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Revelation 14:2 (NKJV) 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. Don McClain 8 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 Literal harps?  What are the golden bowls of incense?  Other things in the context – The scroll, (5:1-4), The throne, Lamb, seven horns, eyes & spirits, (5:6),  A Lamb; 144,000; Names written on forehead; (14:1); Many waters; Loud thunders, (14:2); virgins who follow the lamb; (14:4). Don McClain 9 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

1.Argument: Strongs definition of Psallo - “to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes) :- make melody, sing (psalms).” – therefore Instrumental music is included in Eph 5:19 Don McClain 10 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

1.Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament – Col. 3:16 - See the parallel passage, Ephesians 5:19. A psalm was originally a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. See on 1 Corinthians 14:15. The idea of accompaniment passed away in usage,... Don McClain 11 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

1.Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament – 1 Cor. 14:15 - In Eph_5:19 we have both verbs. The noun ψαλ μ ός psalm (Eph_5:19; Col_3:16; 1Co_14:26), which is etymologically akin to this verb, is used in the New Testament of a religious song in general, having the character of an Old Testament psalm;... The verb is used here in the general sense of singing praise. Don McClain 12 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Thayer Definition: G5567 ψάλλω psallo ̄ 1) to pluck off, pull out – 2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang - 2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate - 2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. - 2c) to sing to the music of the harp - 2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song Part of Speech: verb Don McClain 13 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

1.ARGUMENT: “In Rom 15:9, the Apostle Paul quoted Ps 18:49. Does not the Hebrew word 'zamar' imply musical accompaniment in Ps 18:49?” Don McClain 14 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 Psallo in the Septuagint translates three different Hebrew words. 1.Nagan which means “to play” and never “to sing. (Ps 33:3) 2.Shir which means ”to sing” and never “to play.” 3.Zamar which means “to sing” with or w/o an instrument. Don McClain 15 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 Fact: Neither zamar nor psallo mean “to play an instrument.”  Zamar means “to pluck or pick” and is translated “prune” in the OT (Leviticus 25:3-4; Isaiah 5:6).  Psallo is used of many things that may be “twitched” or “plucked” as a carpenter’s line, a bow string, hair, a harp. Don McClain 16 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 In the LXX - Whenever psallo translates the Hebrew verb zamar and is rendered “play,” the object of the verb is always specified.  Examples: Psalm 33:2-3; 71:22, 23; 98:5; 144:9; 147:7; 149:3.  Zamar means “sing” when used absolutely. It cannot mean otherwise (e.g., Jdgs. 5:3; Ps. 9:1–2, 11; 21:13; 27:6; 57:7; 68:4; Isa. 12:5). Don McClain 17 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 FACT: When the verb Psallo is used in translating Zamar and an instrument is involved – the instrument is always specified –  FACT: Playing a musical instrument is NOT inherent in the word... else it could not also translate Shir!  FACT: If an instrument was indeed inherent in the word – then one could NOT sing a Psalm without the use of a mechanical instrument. Don McClain 18 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 In the New Testament – the verb Psallo does NOT imply – NOR INCLUDE instrumental music!!  In Ephesians 5:19 – the term Psallo means to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang and then tells us what is to be touched – – THE HEART! – There is an instrument specified!! Don McClain 19 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Don McClain Making melody on a piano! Entertainment! Making melody on a piano! Entertainment! Patriotic songs, holiday jingles, secular songs - Solos & Choirs! Playing instrument! ExcludesExcludes The Instrument –“...in your heart to the Lord” The Kind of Songs – “Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” The Participants – “one another” Specified:Specified: W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9,

Don McClain Making melody on a piano! Entertainment! Making melody on a piano! Entertainment! Patriotic songs, holiday jingles, secular songs - Solos & Choirs! Playing instrument! ExcludesExcludes These change the type (nature, characteristic) of the music “specified.” God Specified:  The Participants –  The Kind of Songs -  The Instrument to be Used 21 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 Singing without an instrument can be done by faith – 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 10:17; Jude 3  History confirms that Mechanical instruments were NOT used in the NT church – and condemned when introduced.  None of the arguments proposed to defend I.M. hold up when examined by the Bible! Don McClain 22 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Not Because:  They are evil in and of themselves -  Merely preference - But Because:  There is no authority for using mechanical instruments of music in worship... Col 3:17 Don McClain 23 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

 Singing without mechanical accompaniment is right – to which everyone will agree!  What’s Wrong With Making It As Sure As you Can? Don McClain 24 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007

Don McClain 25 W. 65th St church of Christ / December 9, 2007